1. TRIPLE JEOPARDY: Protecting
At-Risk Refugee Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
RESPONSE TO SGBV – REFUGEES WITH DISABILITIES

2. Objectives By the end of the session, participants will be able to
Understand how to use the survivor-centered approach to respond to survivors of SGBV
Recognize how to apply the approach to refugees with disabilities

3. The Survivor-Centered Approach
Group Brainstorming
How would you define the “survivor-centered” approach?
Who should benefit from the approach?
Who should use it?

4. Definition of Survivor-Centered Approach
The survivor-centered approach empowers survivors to make informed decisions based on their own priorities and take a leading role in their path to recovery
Diverse survivors should benefit
Young, old, men, women, LGBTI, people with disabilities
Citizens, refugees, internally displaced, stateless, migrants
Diverse supporters should use it
Family, caregivers, community members
Service providers (medical, mental health, legal, psychosocial)

5. Principles of the Survivor-Centered Approach
Dignity
Safety
Confidentiality
Empowerment
Inclusion
Multi-sectoral approaches

6. Dignity When providing services and support to survivors
Ensure the availability of age- and gender- sensitive services
Show respect and empathy
For the choices, wishes and rights of survivors
Be patient while they disclose their experiences
Listen actively
Be aware of your body language and tone of voice
Never interrogate survivors
Focus on survivors’ capacities, not vulnerabilities

7. Safety
Safety includes physical security and emotional well-being of the survivor and others
Assess potential risks with survivors (and, if appropriate, guardians or caregivers)
Provide survivors with all relevant information and opportunities to mitigate risk
Allow survivors to identify and prioritize appropriate risk mitigation measures
Cause no harm

8. Confidentiality
Confidentiality not only ensures survivors’ safety but is central to upholding their dignity and privacy
Secure consent from survivors (and, if appropriate, guardians or caregivers) when taking action to support recovery
Specify with survivors if their personal information needs to be shared with other agencies or professionals
Keep survivors’ records in a secure location at all times
Ensure staff, including interpreters and others involved in survivors’ recovery, uphold confidentiality requirements

9. Empowerment
Empowerment helps survivors regain strength after abuse and take control of their lives
Develop a healing plan in collaboration with survivors (and, if appropriate, support people)
Frame the plan around the needs and priorities, as defined by the survivor
Involve survivors in all aspects of planning, services and protection
Consult with survivors during plan implementation to ensure it remains appropriate, and modify as needed

10. Inclusion
Provide the same quality of services to every survivor regardless of their sex, age, ethnicity and disability
Present all available options to a survivor, even if you are not yet sure how they will participate in these activities
Be prepared to try several different ways of communicating these options
Give the survivor time to think about these options and to ask questions -

11. Multi-sectoral Approaches
Access to a wide range of services and activities is critical for effective recovery
Develop a multi-sectoral approach, involving
Medical, psychological, psychosocial, legal and economic responses
Engage the community in addressing stigma and discrimination relating to SGBV -

12. Survivor-Centered Approach
Health
Safety
Psychosocial
Justice

13. Case Study: Maria
Maria is 19 years old and has an intellectual disability. Her mother says that she is “super active.” She likes to dance and draw, and is always going to visit her neighbors. She always wants to learn something new. Maria used to go to school in the camp, but now she can’t find someone to walk with her. Maria likes to go out, even when it is dark. One night, she went to her neighbor’s house and came back distressed. Her mother asked Maria what happened, and she explained that some boys took off her underpants, and said they were going to “play husband and wife.” Maria’s mother is very worried about Maria’s safety, and has now stopped Maria from visiting neighbors where there are men and boys.

14. Summary
The survivor-centered approach empowers survivors to take a leading role in their recovery
Key principles include dignity, safety, confidentiality, empowerment, inclusion and a multi-sectoral approach
All principles also apply to SGBV survivors with disabilities
We must adapt the way we interact with survivors with disabilities and caregivers, as well as our communication methods to ensure these principles are implemented